Writing in a newsletter about his weight-loss journey last year, Tom said: “Did I tell you I’m on a diet? I know you’re not supposed to call them that anymore, to be on message they have to be a ‘lifestyle change’.”

To mark World Obesity Day, Watson took to his Twitter account this morning with a video statement about weight loss and how the UK government could tackle the current obesity crisis.

Shockingly he revealed two thirds of the UK is overweight or obese, he added: “I think it’s worth us marking today as World Obesity Day – not least because some idiot politician or campaigner will be blaming people for their conditions.”

Related articles

Princess Eugenie weight loss: Royal’s diet and fitness plan REVEALED

Weight loss: Swap these five treats for these alternatives

Tom Watson’s weight loss journey started with cutting out sugar and starchy carbs

Watson went on to explain he was fed up of people being labelled as overweight or obese, and those people struggling with their weight were fighting a losing battle thanks to over-complicated food labelling.

He said: “You know there are over 50 words used to describe the sugars we put in our body. Do you think that’s not deliberate?”

Watson added: “It’s important to develop an approach to eating and exercise that works for you as an individual. And believe me, I don’t underestimate how hard that is.

“It starts with cutting out refined sugar and starchy carbs.

“It starts with trying to lead a more active life, but it doesn’t end there and you need help doing it.”

The MP went on to explain he has set up a commission that asks the question – how can we halt the rise in Type 2 diabetes in the lifetime of a parliament?

He said: “Dealing with obesity is obviously part of that and I want to hear from people who have ideas about how we can do it.

“My message to those politicians who are going to blame people for people overweight or obese is this: stop labelling people, and start arguing for proper labelling of the foods they put in themselves.”

The reaction to this video statement has been mixed, with many Twitter users agreeing with the sentiment but saying some personal responsibility should be taken for weight gain and a poor diet.

“Much of the rot of the West is due to blaming others for our own weaknesses.”

Tom Watson weight loss: The MP has spoken out about obesity levels in the UK (Image: GETTY)

Ross Finnigan added: “Come on Tom. Did you not take responsibility for yourself when you made the change and lost all the weight? (and well done by the way).

“The principles behind losing weight and living healthily are simple. I’ve never ate 200g of Wholenut and felt I’d been tricked by the label.”

The debate rages on on social media.

It’s believed the Labour MP lost weight after taking up the Pioppi plan – a diet that is low in carbs and bans added sugar.

Before embarking on the plan Tom went through his cupboard and threw out all tempting snacks, foods with sugar and products such as pasta.

“I would avoid, slightly more controversially, a lot of starchy carbs,” he told The Guardian.

“I do have some brown rice and occasionally pasta when I’m out. If I have bread, I have it made with almond flour.”

Talking about his weight loss and what diet in his New Statesman column, Watson added: “Since last summer I’ve taken off 86lbs through a regime of cutting out sugar, eating better and exercising.

“This morning started with what the LA set call a ‘bulletproof coffee’. It’s basically butter from grass-fed cows blended with fresh coffee – the idea is to get saturated fats into your diet so that you’re not as hungry during the day.”

Related articles

Incredible celebrity weight loss transformations

Tue, June 12, 2018

Incredible celebrity weight loss transformations.

Getty

1 of 21

Natalie Cassidy shows off her slim figure at the Soap Awards in 2018

Tom Watson’s statement in full

“With two thirds of the UK overweight or obese, I think it’s worth us marking today, as World Obesity Day – not least because some idiot politician or campaigner will be blaming people for their conditions. Will be telling them that they’ve got to take personal responsibility. That they’re in some way deficient because they’re overweight, that they have to work harder to get thin.

“Well, what I want to say on World Obesity Day is we should stop labelling people. When you go to the supermarket and you look at all those products, you might look at the labels, but what chance have you got of knowing what you’re actually putting in yourself?

“You know there are over 50 words used to describe the sugars we put in our body. Do you think that’s not deliberate? Do you think people aren’t confused by that? Alright, you go to McDonald’s and you get your burger – or other fast food outlets – they might now tell you the calorific value of the food you’re taking but do they tell you how many carbs or what protein’s in the products? Do they tell you what oil they’re using? Are they using olive oil or are they using trans fats to cook the food? You don’t know.

“When you buy a can of beer, do you know how much sugar’s in that? No. Because the labels don’t tell you. It’s important to develop an approach to eating and exercise that works for you as an individual. And believe me, I don’t underestimate how hard that is. It starts with cutting out refined sugar and starchy carbs. It starts with trying to lead a more active life, but it doesn’t end there and you need help doing it. That’s where the government comes in, and that’s why I’ve set up a commission that asks the question – how can we halt the rise in Type 2 diabetes in the lifetime of a parliament?

“Dealing with obesity is obviously part of that and I want to hear from people who have ideas about how we can do it. My message to those politicians who are going to blame people for people overweight or obese is this: stop labelling people, and start arguing for proper labelling of the foods they put in themselves.”